Lock and latch mechanism.



N. B. HUFID.

LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISNI.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2l ISI Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I AHA ; N. B. HURD.

LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IIAR. 21, I9I7.

nue/W170i Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

UNITED STATES rirrnnfr ernten.

NORMAN IBOLLESVH'URD, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIFGNOR TO THE AMERI- GAN HARDWARE CORPORATION, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT.

vide ancasy 'action 'latch which can bevv operated by swinging in either direction.

It is `particularly adapted to the auxiliary latch ot' what areA commonly termed panic bolt locks, and I have shown the invention as a ppliedto a lock and its use with a pair of doors, so that either door may be operated independently ofthe other door.

Inthe simple form illustrated herein, there is a spring pressed slide guided in the lock casing, and an operating member or latch loosely carried by the slide and projecting through the face of the lock. ,This

latch member "is provided with two? lugs which serve as fulcrums for the latch so that it can be readily turned to the right or to the left, a combined locking and sliding connection being maintained bet-Ween the latch and the slide.

Figure 1 is a side'view showing the latch as applied to one form of mechanism.

Fig, Q is a front view of the same Showing the front platebroken away and the casing in section adjacent the latch controller.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the latch on the plane' of the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the latch controller protruding.

Fig. 4 is a section on the same plane indicating the method of operation ofthe latch controller. A

Fig. 5 is a vertical projection showing the latch mechanism as' applied to a pair of doors7 and Y Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.

The controller 9 normallyy protrudes through an opening 10` in the face plate 11,

which opening is but slightly larger than that part of the controller. normally seated within it. Two side edges 12-12 arelbeveled preferably on curved lines, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The rear' 13 of the controller is also preferably curved. Luge or shoulders 14-14 are provided to limit the -outward protrusion of th'econtrolleiand -to serve as. fuicrulns whenv 4the `controller is operatedfas indicated in Fig. 4. The slide 15 is preferably guided in grpovesv 16--15 LOCK AND LATCH MECHANIS'M.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 23, 191.7. Application sied march A21, 1917. .serial No. 156,262.

fin the walls of the casing. The slide is provided vvith a horizontal groove 17 to receive the rear of the controller. The grooves 18 in the sides of the'casing allow for the in and out sliding movement of the shoulders 14 of the controller. 1n the form shown, the slide has a slot 19 in itsshanlr'guided on the stud 20 which is secured in the easing, The slide may also be steadied in its rear portion by the part 21 betweenthe sides of the casing. Normally the spring 22 presses the slide and controller outwardly.

The controller or latch may be used in connection with many Ydifferent forms of mechanism. The form herein shown in' cludes a spring pressed bolt 24, the inner and outer roll backs 9.5 and 26', the key operated retracting member 27, the clogging member 2S. the rocking member' 29 for clogging the outer roll back, the members 30 andi V31 for operating the member 29 and thepin for holding the (logging member- 28 out of the path of movement ot' the bolt 24.

I have shown the mechanism as applied vto a pair of doors 35and 36 adapted to swing outwardly. The door 85 carries upper and lower bolts 37 and 3S adapted to be retracted by means of an operating handle 39. The latch mechanism heretofore described as embodying my invention is secured to the door 36 and of Course inovesuf'ith'it as the door is swung` outward orl closed. The bolt '21 may be retracted in any suitable manner by means of the handle 40 when itis desired to swing the right hand door outwardly. The left hand door carries a striker plate 41 with a pocket 42 which opens toward vthe inside so that when the bolts 37 and .38 are retracted by operation of the handle 39, the door 35 may be swung out Y wardly without disturbing the ,right hand door 36, and the lett hand door may be swung inwardly when the right hand .door is closed` 1f the right hand door is closed and theleft hand door is open andA is being closed, the inner edge of the strikerplate will engage the outerbeveled face of the controller 2": and operated in the manner shown in Fig. 4 so as to push the controller inwardly. 1n Case the left hand door is closed and the right hand door is open and isrbeing closed, theinside 'face ot the controller will engage the outer edge of the striker plate Ail and operate the controller in the reverse manner. 1n either case the construction of the eontrollei` and its method of Support permits it to be tori-ed inwardly with but little resistance no matter which door it is that is being Closed. By the use of suoli construction either door may be operated independently oi' the other door, the eoiitroller 9 operating with equal ease in either direction.

The operation ot the mechanism will be understood by one familiar with this art. Vv'heii the iippeil end of the rocker 29 is drawn to the lettby the lever 30 and Slide 31, the (logging member 28 is free to fall in the path ot' movement of the bolt 24 Whenever the Slide, l5 and part 2l are moved inwardly. The Slide is operated by the Controller 9 being forced inward by engagement with the striker plate 4l. The striker plate' tilts the controller 9 about one of its shoulders 14 as a t'iilorinn, as indicated in Fig. fl: and thus `brings it into e. position Where the continued pressure of the striker plate can readily force the controller and slide in- Wai-dtv. It will be noted that the controller has a rocking and sliding engagement betweenits rear Curved face and the abutting wall of the groove in the slide. The ogival shape ot' the nose of the Controller facilitates the rocking and sliding action of the eontroller no matter toward which side the door or the striker plate is moved.

l claim:

In a latch mechanism, a casing having oppositely disposed upper and lower guide gromes and oppositely dispoesed interni@di ate guide grooves between .Said upper and lower guide grooves, a face plate having 2.111 opening narrower than the space between said intermediate grooves, a latch controller having beveled front edges guided in said opening and lateral rear projections guided in said intermediate grooves, and a slide cooperating `with said latch Controller and guided in said upper and lower guide grooves.

NORMAN BULLES HURD. 

